Bulls still playing starters

With one game left before the postseason, group coming together nicely as top playoff seed

April 25, 2012|By K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune reporter

INDIANAPOLIS — Rather than focusing on the number 1, Tom Thibodeau is more concerned with 15.

That's how many games Derrick Rose, Richard Hamilton, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah have started together (going 13-2), which is why that lineup played one night after the Bulls clinched the Eastern Conference's top seed for the second straight season.

"We still need to find some rhythm with guys," Thibodeau said. "They need some time together."

The Bulls also remain in a race with the Spurs for the league's best overall record, which would mean home-court advantage through the NBA Finals. Thibodeau said he'd take a similar approach for Thursday's regular-season finale against the Cavaliers.

Nobody played more than Deng's 33 minutes, 33 seconds against the Pacers. Rose, who has missed 26 games, logged 26:30.

The Bulls lost in the Eastern Conference finals last season after posting the league's best record. So the mood was more casual than celebratory about clinching the East.

"It's the next step along the way," Thibodeau said. "You try to put as many things in your favor as possible. It's not the end all. It doesn't guarantee anything. But I think it also gives you your best chance."

Take it easy: The Pacers, locked into the third seed, rested only leading scorer Danny Granger. Other teams, including the likely first-round opponent 76ers, are sitting multiple starters.

In a Wednesday conference call with reporters, Commissioner David Stern weighed in on the debate.

"I cringe, but then I uncringe and I say that we've always had the issue and in some ways we knew as a league that it might be intensified by the impactness of the season," Stern said. "The one thing we tried to do in recent decades is not to try to coach for the coach. We've respected that."

Kyle Korver agreed with Thibodeau's keep-playing approach.

"I'm not into guys totally sitting out, especially for us because we've had guys out," Korver said. "We don't need Derrick to hurt himself. But we need him to play. And we need to play with him."

Layups: After their first non-All-Star-related, three-day break this season, the Bulls canceled their morning shootaround and merely had a film session and walk-through at the team hotel. … The Pacers honored all surviving members of their three-time ABA championship teams at halftime. Current broadcaster Bob "Slick" Leonard coached those teams and also once hired Jerry Krause as a scout for the defunct Chicago Packers/Zephyrs.